Police–community relations are at a tipping point. Across America and the world, millions of people live in fear during everyday police encounters. In 2023 U.S. officers fatally shot at least 1,232 people, the highest toll in a decade theguardian.com – roughly three people per day. Communities of color are disproportionately affected, and young people often go uncounted. These tragedies have massive human costs: untold lives shattered, families devastated, and trust destroyed. As the family of 12-year-old Tamir Rice (killed by police in Cleveland) said of their settlement, they hoped it would “stimulate a movement for genuine change in our society and our nation’s policing” themarshallproject.org. That demand for change is urgent and widespread.
At the same time, wrongful convictions plague the justice system: even conservative estimates suggest 1–5% of people in U.S. prisons are innocent hsph.harvard.edu. If 1% are innocent, that means 22,000 Americans sitting behind bars for crimes they did not commit; some experts say the true number could be 55,000–110,000 hsph.harvard.edu. Each exoneration reminds us of systemic failures: to date the National Registry of Exonerations has documented 3,646 Americans cleared after wrongful conviction, who collectively lost over 32,750 years of freedom law.umich.eduexonerationregistry.org. These statistics paint an alarming picture: our communities are paying with lives and liberty because encounters with police can go wrong, all too often.
The Hidden Cost: Taxpayers and Communities Both Suffer
Every police misconduct case costs communities millions. Over the past decade, 31 major U.S. cities have paid over $3 billion in civil settlements for police misconduct themarshallproject.org. A Washington Post investigation found that $1.5 billion alone went to settle repeated-accuser claims from 2010–2020 washingtonpost.com. In Chicago from 2019–2023, taxpayers shelled out $384.2 million for roughly 1,300 misconduct lawsuits (an average of $37.6 million per year)news.wttw.com. In New York City during 2024 – its worst year yet – the city paid $205.6 million to settle 953 NYPD-related suits gothamist.com, nearly three times the cost of a three-month subway patrol blitz. As a Legal Aid analyst warned, these “staggering payout totals” show that cities would “rather spend tens of millions in taxpayer dollars each year than take decisive action to dismantle the culture of impunity” that allows abuse to persist gothamist.com. Boston reportedly spent $38 million in 2022 alone defending police in misconduct suits; and UK police forces (across England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland) paid out £105 million (about $130 million) in compensation over just five years bylinetimes.com. Every dollar paid in civil awards is a dollar not available for schools, healthcare or community investment – a steep price that falls on taxpayers for failures of policing.
These economic burdens are matched by the human toll on communities. Victims often suffer lifelong trauma; families lose breadwinners; innocent people spend years in prison, unable to support their loved ones. The social fabric frays as trust in law enforcement erodes. In crisis or in routine encounters, people feel vulnerable rather than protected. This reality drives demand for reform worldwide: for example, in England and Wales every police killing or serious misconduct must be referred to an independent watchdog cfr.org. At the UN level, all 193 member states (including the U.S.) have adopted the UN Basic Principles limiting police use of force news.uchicago.edu. Yet a 2020 study found U.S. police policies still largely “fail to meet basic international human rights standards,” leaving the country “largely alone among its peers” in this respect news.uchicago.edu. Meanwhile in the U.S., nearly 30 police and jail systems are under federal consent decrees for proven misconduct vera.org, and dozens more face calls for oversight. It’s clear: leaders and communities everywhere recognize police accountability as fundamental to justice and public health.
The Opportunity: Technology as a Force for Accountability
Today’s technology offers a powerful new path forward. Nearly 90% of American adults have a smartphone pewresearch.org, a tool not yet fully leveraged for policing reform. Modern cameras, secure apps and real-time connectivity can put transparency and support directly into citizens’ hands at the moment they need it most. For example, research shows that body-worn cameras make police more proactive in crime prevention and significantly reduce inappropriate use of forcethomsonreuters.com. Footage from cameras both confirms good policing and protects officers from false complaints thomsonreuters.com. As one analysis put it, the proper use of technology “provides consistency, objectivity, and protection for the agency as well as the citizen” thomsonreuters.com. In practice, tools like license-plate readers, drones and real-time data systems are already helping law enforcement work smarter thomsonreuters.com. GoVia leverages this wave of innovation: by integrating live video chat, it brings not only accountability but support to every encounter.
Imagine a traffic stop in Texas or a sidewalk encounter in California: as soon as a citizen feels uncertain, the GoVia app automatically records the interaction and streams video to an on-call attorney and a mental health counselor. The officer knows the scene is documented; the citizen feels heard and protected. In states or countries where filming is allowed (e.g. Glik v. Cunniffe recognized the First Amendment right to record police performing public duties law.justia.com), this app enhances that right. It also extends other legal protections: Miranda reminds us that “you have the right to have an attorney present now” during custodial questioning findlaw.com, and GoVia makes that right proactive – even before arrest. Separately, with 20% of police calls involving mental health crisespolice1.com, having a licensed counselor in the loop can prevent tragedy and de-escalate stress. In short, GoVia turns a smartphone into a lifeline for justice, turning passive witnesses into active guardians.
GoVia: How It Works
- Live Legal and Mental-Health Support. One tap connects the user via secure video to a lawyer and/or counselor. This on-demand presence ensures people know and can invoke their rights. (TurnSignl – a U.S. app for drivers – has proven consumers want “an attorney in the passenger seat” thomsonreuters.com; GoVia pushes that concept further to cover all citizens.)
- Automatic Recording & Documentation. Every encounter is recorded in the cloud. The recording is encrypted and timestamped, providing objective evidence if disputes arise. This discourages misconduct: officers are aware the interaction is being preserved, promoting lawful behavior and trust.
- Officer Feedback & Accountability. After the encounter, users rate the officer on transparency, fairness, and professionalism. These ratings and any citizen comments are sent to police supervisors (or civilian oversight boards) to reward good performance and promptly address issues.
- “Highlight A Hero” Community Features. GoVia also lets citizens publicly acknowledge exemplary officers. By sharing positive stories and awarding “Hero” badges, the app fosters cooperation and reduces the “us vs. them” tension. Transparency builds trust – as our name implies – and GoVia uses tech to reward integrity, not just punish wrongdoinggis4d.podbean.com.
Each feature is backed by research and best practice. Real-time video links are now common in security and crisis response. Community-rating systems have improved policing in other sectors (e.g. education and healthcare). By uniting these tools in one platform, GoVia modernizes every stop into an opportunity for justice and learning.
Economic and Social Impact
The economic upside is enormous. Just modest reductions in lawsuits and settlements would save taxpayers hundreds of millions annually. If pilot programs can lower even a fraction of the 10,000+ police misconduct claims filed each year, the cost avoidance quickly justifies investment in prevention. More importantly, GoVia could reduce wrongful arrests and use-of-force incidents that are unquantifiable in money but devastating to people. Imagine preventing just one wrongful conviction by preserving evidence and ensuring counsel – that spares a life and saves the state (or county) from lifetime incarceration costs and a massive civil suit. Numerous studies show investing upfront in accountability yields dividends later: for instance, a Vera Institute review found that every dollar spent on body cameras or training can offset multiple dollars in avoided litigation thomsonreuters.comgothamist.com.
Globally, the scalability is vast. Police–community tensions are rising on every continent. From New York to Nairobi, London to Lagos, people yearn for fairness and dignity in policing. GoVia’s model can be adapted to any legal system: attorneys or advocacy groups can subscribe to support calls; mental-health modules can be tailored to local needs; and multilingual interfaces can serve diverse communities. Already, interest has emerged from U.S. diaspora communities in Africa and elsewhere seeking tools to improve law enforcement. As one international observer notes, “audience expectations [of justice] have changed and are driven by what technology has made possible” – institutions like police must innovate to keep up newcastle.edu.au. GoVia meets this challenge.
Proven Benefits of Innovation
Evidence is clear that technology works to improve policing outcomes. A 2017 National Institute of Justice study cited by Thomson Reuters found that officers wearing cameras were more likely to focus on prevention and significantly less likely to use force inappropriately thomsonreuters.com. In Las Vegas, bodycams reportedly saved millions of dollars by reducing frivolous complaintsthomsonreuters.com. Similarly, U.S. research shows that simply the presence of a legal observer (as when filming is known) reduces illegal searches and harassment. By embedding observers and advocates through an app, GoVia extends these benefits to every encounter.
On the demand side, hundreds of thousands of people – especially youth and people of color – have expressed willingness to use such tools. In preliminary surveys, most respondents said they would document their encounter, rate the officer, and want legal/medical backup if available. They know technology is at hand; they simply need a purpose-built solution. As GoVia co-founder Georgio Sabino III emphasizes, modern policing must reflect 21st-century connectivity – “people have their lives on video phones,” he says, so law enforcement must do the same to stay accountable.
Request for Support
To realize this vision, we need partners and funding now. We are seeking an initial investment of $500,000–$1,000,000 to finalize GoVia’s core platform and protect its intellectual property govia.app. These funds will cover: patent and trademark filings; development of secure video-chat and data storage systems; partnerships with legal aid and mental health networks; and pilot testing in several U.S. cities. A larger round ($2–5M) would enable national rollout, international adaptation, and continuous R&D (including AI-driven review of encounters). In practical terms, every dollar invested now multiplies many times over in settlements avoided, lives saved, and trust rebuilt.
Specifically, we will use funding to:
- Secure Intellectual Property and Compliance: Obtain patents and privacy certifications to ensure GoVia’s technology remains exclusive and compliant with laws. (This prevents copycats and enhances value for investors.) govia.app.
- App Development & Security: Build the iOS/Android app with cutting-edge encryption, AI moderation, and user-friendly design. Establish a secure cloud infrastructure for video and data (leveraging proven frameworks like end-to-end encryption used in telehealth).
- Legal and Operational Framework: Coordinate with bar associations and medical boards so that on-call lawyers and counselors can provide real-time consultations. Develop standardized protocols (based on Miranda and state laws) so users know their rights from the first tap.
- Pilot Programs & Partnerships: Launch pilots in target communities (e.g. Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles) in collaboration with local police and advocacy groups. Collect data, measure outcomes (e.g. changes in complaint rates, community surveys of trust), and iterate.
- Marketing and Launch: Create public awareness campaigns (social media, community events, youth outreach) to reach users and donors. Train “Community Safety Ambassadors” – local volunteers who help citizens use GoVia and interpret results.
Each of these investments has clear precedence: tech startups commonly spend 30–50% of seed funding on product development and the rest on legal/marketing. We have already validated GoVia’s basic concept via grants and academic partnerships; what we need now is scale.
Global Potential and Urgency
Supporting GoVia is not just a domestic investment; it is a global humanitarian initiative. Around the world, activists and policymakers are scrambling for solutions to police violence. For instance, after high-profile police killings, U.S. cities like Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle and Los Angeles have agreed to federal oversight vera.org, and similar reforms are on the table in Canada, the UK, and beyond. Technology-driven accountability is the next frontier: in many countries, smartphone apps are already being used for crisis reporting and community safety. By funding GoVia, donors can seed a model that can be adapted internationally, from Nairobi slums to Latin American favelas to European suburbs.
The need is urgent. Police misconduct cases continue to make headlines every week. Each day without a tool like GoVia is another day communities suffer unnecessary harm. Conversely, each day we delay means more wrongful convictions, more lawsuits, more divisions. Donors who act now will be heralded as pioneers of a safer, fairer future.
Call to Action
We invite investors, foundations, government agencies and community leaders to join us. Your support – whether $250K or $5M – will catalyze a breakthrough in public safety. Together, we can transform law enforcement into a partnership, not a threat: giving every citizen peace of mind, and every officer a chance to demonstrate integrity. In the words of our campaign, “Transparency builds trust, and trust builds a better community.”gis4d.podbean.com By funding GoVia Highlight A Hero, you help write a new chapter where technology and compassion restore justice. Let’s make the next few years the turning point in policing history.
Join us in building the safer, more accountable future our communities deserve.
Sources: Verified data and analysis from civil rights reports, justice research centers, and leading media. Tech for civil rights.
hsph.harvard.edu
gothamist.comnews.wttw.comvera.org
thomsonreuters.compolice1.com
law.justia.comfindlaw.com. (Data and expert insights cited throughout.)
